Post by Kate on Aug 17, 2007 9:29:49 GMT -5
I get asked so often by others….”What motivated you or what was the one thing that made you decide you needed to do this for yourself?” I wish there was a clear and easy answer to that question and that I could say that I had some big revelation such as seeing myself in a picture. But the truth is, I just snapped. I had had enough and I just plain simply snapped. My entire life has been filled with so much turmoil and personal tragedies. Too numerous and too painful to mention most. My breaking point came when within a span of 15 months, I lost my mother to Lou Gehrig’s disease, a sister to cancer, my son was born three month’s premature, and my marriage fell apart. As if the wrenching heartache were not enough, I also began to gain weight. I had gone up and down in weight since high school but nothing that wasn’t manageable. This was different. With my self-worth at an all time low, I decided to take control of my life. It was time for a major change. I decided right then that life was going to stop kicking me and I was just going to kick it back. I needed to prove to myself that bad things don’t always have to happen to me. I could change my life.
In that single moment I started working on myself from the inside out. I treated myself differently by doing little inexpensive self-loving activities such as: bubble baths, manicures, and self-help books. The more I read the more empowered I became. Weighing close to 200lbs., one of the areas of life that I decided to improve was my health. As I learned about the importance of nutrition in weight loss, I reduced fatty foods in my diet, chose healthier starches such as oatmeal, and cut out sugar. I read every self help book I could get my hands on until I knew forwards and backwards…CLEAN EATING.
The results were amazing; inspired by my improved quality of life, I took the next step and bought a treadmill. I started walking, then jogging, and eventually built up enough stamina to run in the Indianapolis Mini Marathon…twice. Not just running it either but with great times both less than 2 hours. Eating frequently and properly combined with exercising gave me a new identity and my accomplishments only fueled my desire to improve. When I incorporated weightlifting into my exercise regimen, my body took on a whole new form. I loved the nice well rounded look I was getting from my muscles. I not only became strong physically, but mentally as well. While attending a NPC figure contest to support a friend, I decided to take my new lifestyle to a higher level by competing the NPC Amateur Figure circuit. I hired a wonderful trainer and nutritionist, Kim Oddo and took it to the next level.
My dedication to a healthy lifestyle resulted in losing over 70lbs. My success was the result of believing in myself, eating healthy food, choosing the right supplements and adhering to daily exercise and most importantly loving myself on the inside for the first time ever. I have been featured as the “Transformation of the Week” on Bodybuilding.com, the newspaper, the morning Fox News in Indianapolis and finished in the top four in two bodybuilding/figure competitions. I have also since gone on to compete in the Bodyrock 2006, The Arnold Amateur, Emerald Cup, Jr USA’s and Masters Nationals. I am so excited. I know that I may be older then most beginning competitors at the age of 40, but to be on that stage is my trophy. Who I have become is my trophy. To hang in there strong with 20 and 30 year olds, well, it’s icing on the cake. The lifelong friendships I have made are truly priceless.
I stay motivated by helping others. I now keep my knowledge and wisdom by passing it along, and giving it away. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a purpose in life for me. I now feel I have been blessed in so many ways. My life is no longer tragic. I want my son to grow-up practicing healthy exercise and eating habits. He is so proud of his mother and even carries my picture in his binder to school each day. I am further inspired by spreading the story of how I changed my life through healthier living. Helping others achieve their fitness goals has brought me so much satisfaction that I am now writing exercise and nutrition programs. So far it has been an amazing journey and I have learned something from each show and met so many people that I know will be my friends for the rest of my life. I hope to inspire anyone to keep reaching for their dreams. If I can reach just one person out there that has low self esteem and who believes that they can’t change their life…well it’s all worth it.
Alright...you asked for it...you got it. OH GEESH
Before.....
AND AFTER
In that single moment I started working on myself from the inside out. I treated myself differently by doing little inexpensive self-loving activities such as: bubble baths, manicures, and self-help books. The more I read the more empowered I became. Weighing close to 200lbs., one of the areas of life that I decided to improve was my health. As I learned about the importance of nutrition in weight loss, I reduced fatty foods in my diet, chose healthier starches such as oatmeal, and cut out sugar. I read every self help book I could get my hands on until I knew forwards and backwards…CLEAN EATING.
The results were amazing; inspired by my improved quality of life, I took the next step and bought a treadmill. I started walking, then jogging, and eventually built up enough stamina to run in the Indianapolis Mini Marathon…twice. Not just running it either but with great times both less than 2 hours. Eating frequently and properly combined with exercising gave me a new identity and my accomplishments only fueled my desire to improve. When I incorporated weightlifting into my exercise regimen, my body took on a whole new form. I loved the nice well rounded look I was getting from my muscles. I not only became strong physically, but mentally as well. While attending a NPC figure contest to support a friend, I decided to take my new lifestyle to a higher level by competing the NPC Amateur Figure circuit. I hired a wonderful trainer and nutritionist, Kim Oddo and took it to the next level.
My dedication to a healthy lifestyle resulted in losing over 70lbs. My success was the result of believing in myself, eating healthy food, choosing the right supplements and adhering to daily exercise and most importantly loving myself on the inside for the first time ever. I have been featured as the “Transformation of the Week” on Bodybuilding.com, the newspaper, the morning Fox News in Indianapolis and finished in the top four in two bodybuilding/figure competitions. I have also since gone on to compete in the Bodyrock 2006, The Arnold Amateur, Emerald Cup, Jr USA’s and Masters Nationals. I am so excited. I know that I may be older then most beginning competitors at the age of 40, but to be on that stage is my trophy. Who I have become is my trophy. To hang in there strong with 20 and 30 year olds, well, it’s icing on the cake. The lifelong friendships I have made are truly priceless.
I stay motivated by helping others. I now keep my knowledge and wisdom by passing it along, and giving it away. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a purpose in life for me. I now feel I have been blessed in so many ways. My life is no longer tragic. I want my son to grow-up practicing healthy exercise and eating habits. He is so proud of his mother and even carries my picture in his binder to school each day. I am further inspired by spreading the story of how I changed my life through healthier living. Helping others achieve their fitness goals has brought me so much satisfaction that I am now writing exercise and nutrition programs. So far it has been an amazing journey and I have learned something from each show and met so many people that I know will be my friends for the rest of my life. I hope to inspire anyone to keep reaching for their dreams. If I can reach just one person out there that has low self esteem and who believes that they can’t change their life…well it’s all worth it.
Alright...you asked for it...you got it. OH GEESH
Before.....
AND AFTER
